Disclaimer : I do not own these characters, except Marpessa, Rose, Gwen and some others !

I'm sorry I don't update often, but I have so many exams these days ! Oh, and for once, I'd like to thank my editor, Fauve (this isn't a nickname), well she's the girl who corrects the story because English isn't my first language, it's French, and I thought a fanfiction about Harry Potter should be in english ...:D (by the way, my english exam's tomorrow :D)

4. Impartial Judge

The next morning, Charm class was not enjoyed by many. Professor Flitwick had told them they were gonna go over the Desilusion Charm, because it was bound to be asked at the N.E.W.T. Rose, overexcited at the idea of showing her fellow students how good she was at Desilusing people, missed her first spell. A jet of pink sparkles emerged from her wand and exploded before reaching her partner, Gwen Pritchard. Half of the Gryffindors found themselves covered by a rain of rose petals. There was so much petals that it took nearly fifteen minutes to clean the classroom and everyone up.

Through the confusion, Marpessa had time to reach the Marauders. The four of them had umbrellas at the end of their wands, created to protect themselves from the Mad Rose Petals.

"Need a private talk !", said Marpessa. Her hair, already messy, was full of red rose petals. She even had some in her mouth, as the petals started to fly all over the class. They were now attacking people and tiny Professor Flitwick had to cast a Shield Spell to protect himself.

"I'll go", said quickly Sirius.

Carrying his lilac umbrella, he put his arm around Marpessa elbows "If you want to ask me out for the next Hogsmeade trip, I'm already -"

"Dream on, Black. Frank and I had an idea for the challenge. Is there some place we can meet James and you tonight ?"

Sirius seemed a bit disappointed, but he grinned and said "Near the silver fruit-bowl portrait in the corridor next to the Great Hall's staircase. At seven. Dinner's on me."

"Ok.", agreed Marpessa. She smirked when she saw Rose vomit some of her own petals. "Now, Black, if you could let me go ... People might start thinking I've a really bad taste !".

"And for Hogsmeade ?" He tried a I-have-a-Greek-God-body-and-I-know-you-want-me smile, but, somehow, it didn't work properly.

"You have your Sirius Black Regular Dating Girls Fondation, don't you ?"

"I know, I know ... But if you go out with me, you'll have a 50 reduction on your membership card. Great news, ah ?"

"Never" she said briskly. She hit him in the belly and went to tell Frank about the meeting.

"All crazy about your handsome face, Padfoot" muttered Sirius to himself, grinning.

At lunch time, all the people in the Great Hall could hear Rose yelling. She was sitting between Marpessa and Lily and she kept threatening everyone around her. And it was working pretty well, as the whole school knew about her Freak Petals Spell. Some of the Gryffindors still had petals in their hair.

"He dared GIVING me extra-homeWORK ! He said MY Desilusion CHARM needed a little extra-WORK ! I CAN'T believe IT ! I should have DESILUSED HIM ! THAT tiny old FROG !"

Her friends had a hard time trying not to laugh. Rose was extremely likely.

"Just don't do it" said Gwen, who was sitting in front of Rose. "He'll never notice. You just have to be less excited next time we practise the Desilusion Charm." Her mouth was stitching as she repressed a smile.

"And think about something else, please.", said Marpessa, "Something you like. Or someone ... Think about a certain Marauder for example !"

Rose blushed and nearly choked. She immediatly replied : "What do you mean, miss I-have-secret-rendezvous ?"

"Marpessa's having secret rendezvous ?" said Lily, bemused. "If they're secret, how come you know, Rose ?"

"Professionals don't reveal their tips" said Rose, delighted. And she went on : "I think she's seeing Sirius. I've seen them in Charm class ..."

"You're kidding ! Marpessa and that cocky Black !" said Gwen.

"Would you stop yelling, Gwen, I don't want anyone to overhear us ! And of course, she's kidding !" said Marpessa, glaring furiously at her friend.

"Well ... It's like Lily and James, isn't it ?" said Rose. A small smile appeared on her lips.

"Me and that ... that big-headed jerk ?"

Lily's green eyes narrowed and she looked at Marpessa. Marpessa took out her wand and said "I say we turn her into a cute little snail ! At three."

Lily had took her wand out too. "Two", she said.

"I er ... I didn't mean what I said ... I er ..." gasped Rose. "Er ... Need to go to the library !"

And she ran out of the Great Hall.

"Ah, you found your way", said Sirius, grinning at Frank and Marpessa. "Ladies first".

Although, neither Marpessa nor Frank knew about the Hogwarts Kitchens. The two were not surprised to see House Elves there (well, maybe Marpessa a bit, because it was the first time she saw them). But none of them would have guessed that there was about a hundred of them, all ready to roast an elephant if a student said he was hungry. Marpessa and Frank were surrounded by House Elves and they had trouble getting to the table where James, Remus and Peter were sitting. Finally, when the Elves had brought tea, biscuits and cakes, they started their meeting.

"So, what's your great idea, Cauldwell ?" said James who was eating chocolate éclairs.

"Well, we're not even sure this challenge's a real thing ... But we know one thing for sure, the Slytherins will do anything to win. So Frank and I thought we might want to keep our pranks anonymous for the moment"

Sirius, James and Peter faces fell.

"No showing off ?" they said, as disappointed as if Christmas had been cancelled.

"I told you it wouldn't be easy", mumbled Frank to Marpessa and she said : "No showing off. But we still can do a lot of things ! Send them hundreds of Howlers, jinx the armors so they'll attack them ... Or we can learn the doors to recognize the Slytherins, so they can shut when these gits try to open them."

James laughed loudly. So loudly that Marpessa and Frank blushed. Were their ideas stupid ? Sirius and Peter had smirked, but Remus remained quiet, as always.

James said :"And you think you're brilliant ? In six years, we must have sent about a thousand Howlers to Snape. Then, the armour of Alderic the Almighty - the biggest one here - attacked him last year, when he was asking out Athina Parkinson. Obviously, she said no ... And the doors of the second floors toilets still refuse to open when he tries to enter. It even shouts at him, things like "Greasy hair" or "Big hooky nose"."

"How can he remember all that ?" mumbled Marpessa, amazed.

"They're maybe writting it down" said Frank.

"I do" said simply Remus. He showed Marpessa and Frank a roll of parchment and a quill.

"Er ... but what're we gonna do tomorrow ?"

"Don't worry, The Marauders are in charge"

Later on, the four Slytherins and the Gryffindors met in front of a Norvegian witch's portrait who usually kept singing the opera. Hopefully, this evening she was asleep. Snape, Bellatrix, Rodolphus and Rastaban had brought a brown-haired girl from Hufflepuff.

"Who's she ?" asked James, looking at the girl with disdain.

"She is our Impartial Judge" said Snape.

"Judge ?"

"She will be the one who'll announce the winners. As she is not in any of our Houses, we can trust her."

"But you brought her. You must know her" said Sirius, not really convinced.

"I assure you we can trust her. She hates you two as much as she hates me and Bellatrix. That is why I chose her."

"Anyway, what's your name ?" asked Marpessa.

"I'm Amelia Bones. And I think we should all swear to keep this challenge a secret."

"'Swear', eh ? It rings a bell, doesn't it, Prongs ?" said Sirius in a hissed voice.

"Yeah, me too Padfoot".

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good !"they said together, smirking.